MUNICH MAYOR TAPS FIRST KEG AS OKTOBERFEST OPENS

MUNICH, SEPTEMBER 19 /SRNA/ – Munich Mayor Dominik Krause tapped the first keg of beer to officially open this year's Oktoberfest, the world's best-known beer festival, which is being held for the 191st time.

Thousands of people, including women in traditional Bavarian dress and men in lederhosen, packed the tents at Munich's Theresienwiese fairgrounds to secure good seats on the benches.

With brass bands playing and freshly poured beer flowing, visitors soon began singing, dancing and swaying to the music, DPA reported.

Pretzels, roast pork and sausages are also being served alongside the beer.

Around six million visitors are expected over the next 16 days, through October 4. Most come from Munich and southern Germany, although the festival also attracts large numbers of visitors from other parts of the country and around the world each year.

German authorities have tightened security measures after the festival had to be temporarily closed last year because of overcrowding.

Artificial intelligence-powered cameras have been installed for this year's festival to help detect large crowds before congestion becomes dangerous.